There are “scary” hits every week in the National Football League. It’s part of the game. Everyone playing it, and coaching it, knows it.

Under the current collective bargaining agreement, new protocols and staff have been put in place to help protect players after suffering concussions:

2011: Independent, certified athletic trainers were added to press boxers to act as “spotters” for concussions.

2012: In the playoffs, a video element was added to that process.

2013: Independent neurologists added to sidelines.

2015: Those spotters were given ability to buzz to the field officials for a medical timeout.

But it's not perfect. Just over two years ago current Minnesota Vikings quarterback Case Keenum suffered a concussion while quarterbacking the St. Louis Rams and was visibly affected. But he remained in the game and an NFL-NFLPA investigation of the Rams’ process was launched. The Rams were not disciplined by the league for their handling of Keenum.

Then, last Sunday, Houston quarterback Tom Savage appeared to suffer a brief seizure on the field after his head hit the ground. He was also allowed to return to the game, albeit briefly.

Once again, the NFL and the NFLPA said they will investigate what happened on the Houston sideline.

"You wish everybody has the same sense of urgency that I feel like we do about it," Bengals tackle and NFLPA President Eric Winston told BX. "We're just going to keep fighting and keep pushing for the reforms that we think we need to be made in order to get closer and closer to what we feel like is some sort of - and it won't ever be perfect - but that sort of imaginary perfect protocol."

This comes on the heels of a still-ongoing investigation of the Seattle Seahawks and their handling of quarterback Russell Wilson after he took a blow to the head on Nov. 9 and didn’t enter the sideline protocol at all. There have been other curious cases of players not entering the protocol immediately as well.

"My thing is I think there have been some groups that have sidestepped or obfuscated responsibility in this," Winston said. "And I think at the end of the day, we're all responsible. The players cannot be totally responsible because we've known that if you have a concussion, sometimes you don't know you have it. There's signs and you don't know there are signs. But obviously, there is some on the plays. There's obviously a large amount on the medical staff. Now there are spotters. We've even asked the refs to pitch in and they've gladly pitched in and when they've spotted it, they've moved people off. Now, everybody else has to buy into that as well. It's gotta be coaches. It's gotta be other players, too. Your teammates. No one can push aside responsibility saying oh, I have another job to do and my job is not to protect the players. Everybody's job is to protect the players. It just is.

"It's a violent sport, so if you see something that isn't right out of your players, I think it's everybody's duty, whether it's your teammate, you're a coach, a position coach, a head coach, a doctor, everybody's responsibility is to look out for the players at practice and during the game and any other time."

Burfict loses money due to Steelers’ hit

Pittsburgh Steelers’ wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster may have been suspended a game for his crackback block on Vontaze Burfict on Dec. 4, but the Bengals linebacker has really been hurt by it.

Not only was Burfict concussed again (he has missed several games now in his career due to concussions), he has missed the last two games – bringing his total of missed games to five this season. And that’s important, because a key element to Burfict’s $38 million extension signed prior to the season was how many games he would be on the active 46-man roster for.

But, he’s not losing as much as he would in coming years.

With his new deal, and partly because he was already suspended for three games when he signed it, he only had a $500,000 46-man active roster bonus, or $31,250 per game. So, he was out $93,750 for his suspension.

This injury has now cost him $62,500.

Going forward however, it behooves Burfict to at least avoid plays that could lead to a suspension. In 2018, 2019 and 2020 he has $2.25 million in 46-man active roster bonuses, or $140,625 per game.

John Ross isn’t losing any money

When John Ross was drafted with a torn labrum (and various other injuries), the Bengals did work some injury protections into his fully-guaranteed rookie deal – but they were limited. Ross’ $10.6 million signing bonus was paid out in three installments:

The post read: “I didn't come in the NFL how I wanted to nor did I leave how I wanted to but all that said in 9yrs #IHADMYWAY and my time is served wanna thank each and everyone one of y'all who held Gil down since the #92days to now I love and appreciate all y'all and I can honestly say it feel good to be 33 and retired”

Gilberry played nine seasons in the NFL after signing with Kansas City an undrafted free agent out Alabama in 2008. He came to Cincinnati in 2012 and played four full seasons and five games in 2016 with the Bengals. He was with the team in training camp and through the preseason before being released.

He finished with 34 career sacks, including 20 with the Bengals and a career-high 7.5 in 2013.

“Wallace, the guy worked his tail off and when we brought him here he really came in here and was such a productive, not only player, but teammate and person,” Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said. “One of the guys that's great for young guys to see to know what it takes. Sometimes things don't always go right the first time for you and then you keep going and you find your niche and you go. And for him off the field, he's one of those stalwarts who really did a great job of taking care of things and himself and his money. He was interested in more than just football”

Salary cap to rise again

People may not like what went on in the NFL this year regarding demonstrations during the national anthem or the freakish number of injuries to star players, but the money keeps rolling in. Verizon just bought in for $2 billion and at the league meetings, owners were told the 2018 salary cap would increase anywhere from $7-11 million.

Under the current $167 million salary cap, the Bengals are $11.1 million under that. They also could free up another $6.6 million should they choose not to exercise the option of Adam Jones. If that happens, the Bengals could roll into 2018 with $24.7-28.7 million in cap space.

There are several big decisions looming for the front office after a second straight disappointing, non-playoff season and a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the coaching staff.

Are they drifting into another rebuild? Or do they feel they’ve been in an unexpected rebuild the last two seasons and are ready for an extended playoff run in 2018?

This matters, because Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap are hitting the window for extensions, with one year left on their respective deals. Dunlap will be 29 in February and Atkins will be 30 in March. Both will be very expensive. Does the club feel they will age well into their mid-30s? Or is it best for them to play out their remaining year, see how they perform, and take their chances of a pre-free agency deal?

The same could be said for veteran tackle Andre Smith, the most important signing they made in 2017. It’s hard to think he wouldn’t be back on a two-year deal with the idea he competes for the right tackle job and at worst, becomes the backup swing tackle.

The increasing salary cap is good for injured tight end Tyler Eifert, who may find more money out there than anticipated.

Look for the Bengals to make extension pitches to Tyler Kroft,Darqueze Dennard, Chris Smith and Josh Shaw as well.

BX wants you to keep an eye on Andy Dalton, too. He’s got three years left, but I wouldn’t be shocked if another two years are added on to that with some new money up front. Just a thought.